WESSEX Warriors were eliminated from the ECB Vitality T20 Cup at the quarter-final stage – losing a tight contest against Bath by 17 runs.

In the last 16, the U13 cricketers from Marlborough, Avebury, and Wilcot comfortably triumphed by six wickets against Cirencester CC. Wessex won the toss and elected to field, restricting their opponents to 94-8. Captain Collister starred with a hat-trick ending with figures of 4-0-11-3. Opener Miller retired on 31 off 35 balls as they reached their target with 3.1 overs to spare.

But in the last eight fixture, Bath won the toss at South Wiltshire CC and elected to bat. The Somerset outfit found limited scoring opportunities early on due to the tight bowling of Wessex’s Garbutt and Weston. Garbutt bowled the frustrated opener Simmons for one off 16 balls.

In contrast, fellow opener Gearing batted more fluently and retired on 31 not out off 37 balls. He was ably supported by Stappard (15) and Biggs (22). Welsh gave the innings late impetus scoring 23 off 15 balls as Bath’s innings ended on 119-6. Garbutt ended with outstanding figures of 4-2-4-1.

Wessex were dealt an early blow in reply with the loss of openers of Miller and Collister. Brown and Selby re-built the innings - the former retired on 30 not out off 28 balls.

But once Selby was dismissed for 24, regular wickets fell as the Warriors innings ended on 102-8 - 17 runs short of the eventual champions' total.